Strike hits transport, banking in Telangana, Andhra

Hyderabad: The nation-wide strike called by trade unions on Wednesday hit transport and banking services in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Buses of state-owned road transport corporations in both the states went off the roads as employees joined the strike called by trade unions against changes in labour laws, disinvestment and privatisation of public sector undertakings.

Auto-rickshaws in Hyderabad and other towns in the two states were also off the roads. Truck owners and drivers also joined the strike at few places. Petrol bunks were shut at few places due to the strike.

Commuters were stranded at Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS), Jubliee Bus Station in Hyderabad and Secunderanad as majority of long-distance buses were cancelled.

Activists of the left parties and trade unions staged protest at RTC bus depots in all 10 districts of Telangana and 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh. Bus stations in most of the towns wore a deserted look as majority of 18,000 buses in the two states went off the roads.

In Kurnool town of Andhra Pradesh, protest by RTC employees led to tension at the bus station. Striking employees tried to stop buses being operated with the help of contract staff.

Banking services were also paralysed in the two states. Public sector banks were closed in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana and all cities and towns in Andhra as employees joined the strike.

Coal production in state-owned Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) in Telangana was also affected. Employees in SCCL mines in three districts joined the strike. Officials said 45,000 tonnes of coal production will be impacted, causing a loss of Rs.9 crore to the company.

Employees of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, HPCL, Ship Yard and other public sector undertakings also joined the strike.